Cricket, like time, waits for no one. It does not indulge hesitation nor forgive indecision. It rewards those who seize the moment and punishes those who let it slip. And in Mohali, India—so assured, so dominant for three days—discovered the unforgiving nature of Test cricket as Pakistan, seemingly battered and broken, mounted a stunning resistance to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat.
For three days, the match had followed a script written in India's favour. A commanding lead, an opposition on the brink of collapse, and an opportunity to deliver the knockout blow. But the final act did not unfold as expected. Instead, Pakistan, inspired by the defiance of Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq, turned survival into salvation. And India, so close to victory, found themselves watching it slip away, undone by their own passivity when aggression was needed.
A Battle on Two Fronts: Balaji’s Swing and Pakistan’s Butterfingers
Pakistan arrived in India as much as guests as they were competitors, greeted with warmth by their hosts. Yet, as they soon discovered, that hospitality did not extend beyond the boundary rope. On the field, India showed no mercy.
Lakshmipathy Balaji, in particular, was relentless. Returning to Test cricket after a serious side injury, he swung the ball late, pitched it full, and dismantled Pakistan’s batting order with precision. His first five-wicket haul in Tests was a masterclass in control, and by the time he finished with nine for the match, Pakistan had been bundled out for 312—largely thanks to the watchful defiance of Asim Kamal, whose gritty 91 kept his side from complete collapse.
India, however, were given a gift. Pakistan’s fielders, often their Achilles’ heel, dropped Virender Sehwag twice—once on 15, then on 82. It was an invitation he gleefully accepted.
Sehwag's Dominance, Tendulkar's Hesitation
Sehwag, irrepressible and instinctive, treated Pakistan’s attack with disdain. He carved boundaries at will, showing no mercy to an inexperienced bowling unit led by Abdul Razzaq. His 173, spread over nearly six hours, was an exhibition of ruthless efficiency. More significantly, he forged three successive century partnerships—something no Indian batsman had done before. By the time he departed, miscuing a pull to mid-on, India had all but batted Pakistan out of the game.
The stage was then set for Sachin Tendulkar. He stood on the verge of history, just one century away from surpassing Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 34 Test hundreds. The crowd sensed it. The moment seemed inevitable. But as he approached the milestone, Tendulkar tightened, gripped by a self-imposed burden.
In stark contrast to his flowing partnership with Sehwag, Tendulkar, now partnering an out-of-form Sourav Ganguly, became uncharacteristically cautious. They consumed 23 overs for just 47 runs—one man chasing history, the other chasing form—until, in an anti-climactic end, Tendulkar threw his wicket away with a loose shot to gully.
India still pressed on past 500, their dominance undisputed. Danish Kaneria’s six-wicket haul was a small consolation for Pakistan’s bowlers, all of whom conceded over 100 runs. Yet, for all of India’s statistical supremacy, a sense of hesitation crept in. Had they pressed harder, scored quicker, and declared sooner, perhaps they would have dictated the final day. Instead, they left just enough room for Pakistan to breathe.
A Final Day of Defiance
Pakistan’s second innings began as a procession. Within five overs, they were 10 for 3, their top order falling to strokes of sheer submission. The shops in Chandigarh suddenly became more enticing than the match itself. The result seemed inevitable.
But cricket has a way of twisting fate in the most unexpected ways.
Inzamam-ul-Haq, the reluctant warrior, rose to the occasion. Paired with the elegant Yousuf Youhana, he led a fightback that was as determined as it was desperate. Their 139-run stand kept Pakistan afloat, but as the day closed, they were still staring at defeat. The pressure weighed heavily on Inzamam. He later admitted he could barely bring himself to watch the final day unfold.
And yet, when he finally emerged, Pakistan had found salvation.
The architects of this great escape were Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq. Akmal, just 23 years old, batted with an audacity beyond his years. He struck 16 boundaries on his way to a maiden Test century, playing with the kind of clarity that had eluded India the previous day. Razzaq, meanwhile, curbed his natural aggression, choosing restraint over flair. Their partnership, worth 184, was not just a record—it was a statement.
India, once in complete command, faltered when it mattered most. Ganguly’s captaincy turned passive, his fields spread out when they should have been attacking. The bowlers, so effective in the first innings, suddenly lacked bite. By the time Pakistan’s tail had lifted the total to 496—briefly their highest ever in India—the match was beyond reach.
A Victory Lost, A Lesson Learned
The draw felt like a defeat for India. For three days, they had dictated terms, built a position of dominance, and had Pakistan gasping for survival. Yet, when the moment came to finish the job, they hesitated. Their selection—opting for an extra seamer instead of a second spinner—proved costly on a pitch that did not deteriorate as expected. Their batting, though imposing, lacked urgency at critical junctures. Their bowling, so incisive early on, lost its edge when it mattered most.
For Pakistan, it was a triumph of character. They had been outplayed, outgunned, and for much of the match, out of contention. But Test cricket is as much about resilience as it is about skill. They found their saviours in Akmal and Razzaq, who refused to bow. They turned certain defeat into a draw, and in doing so, reminded India of an age-old truth—momentum is only yours for as long as you hold on to it.
As the dust settled in Mohali, one team left the field relieved, the other regretful. And in the grand theatre of Test cricket, where dominance is never enough without ruthlessness, India learned a painful lesson in the cost of letting a moment slip.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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